Into The Light

6

We finally got to the mall and I sighed in relief. I looked up at the mall. It was huge. It looked like a whole damn city from where we were stood at the entrance. I gulped.

Poppy put her hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry, it'll be okay, " she smiled.

We spent most of the afternoon shopping. We had been walking around in circles for hours while the girls tossed all sorts of clothes, makeup, shoes and bags my way. Everytime I picked up some sweats or a hoodie they shook their heads and replaced it with something slim fitting. I couldn't complain too much, the clothes were nice, I just didn't feel so confident wearing them.

I was exhausted by the time we made it to the tech store. Apparently I needed to get a phone. I didn't really care too much about it so I just told Poppy to get me whatever she wanted to.

I was glancing at all the phones, not really paying much attention to them when I saw a face in the reflection of one of the screens. My eyes widened and I looked closer. It definitely looked like him. I slowly turned around and cussed, realising it most definitely was him. Kegan Dawns. The kind of guy you do not cross.

He grinned when he saw me. "Evangeline!" he called out, in a fake friendly manner. "Fancy seeing you here?" he chuckled.

He glanced down at my bags and back up to my eyes, with a raised brow. "I see you're having fun spending my money".

That wasn't a question. That was a statement. He was my last customer. I always asked for my money up front since I was risking my life. And I always got it because I always delivered the service. However, Keegan paid me and he didn't receive his end of the transaction.

"I paid good money for those daggers, Evangeline. Where are they?" his face was suddenly serious.

I tried to remain cool and calm but I wasn't really sure what to do. I didn't have the daggers. Or his money.

"Hey, Keegan. I'm sorry but the service was not successful this time around. I can refund you your money. No need for a service charge this time" I smiled at him.

He chuckled. "Ah well, you see, that won't be good enough, darlin'. I paid for the service, I need those knives."

Dammit I knew he'd be difficult. I sighed. Well if lies don't work on this guy I guess the truth will.

"Look I don't have the daggers but I can get them."

He grinned. "That's my girl," he chuckled. "Fetch" he growled in my ear.

He grabbed me by the shoulder and started pushing me towards the door and I panicked. He wanted me to get them now?

Poppy and Xainier had finished in the store and looked around for me. Poppy spotted me being pushed around by a strange guy and suddenly went all protective. Shit. I saw her steaming her way out of the store up to me and Kegan.

"Hey!" she growled, ripping his hand off my shoulder.

I signalled to her to stop but she was too angry to understand my message.

"Who the hell do you think you are!? Pushing and shoving my sister around!"

Shit. I desperately tried to gain her attention to warn her to stop but she still didn't get it. Please don't mention Carlos. Please don't.

"She has a boyfriend you creep!"

I sighed. God dammit Poppy. Now you've done it.

"Oh she does, does she? So you're spending my money and sleeping around with people in the pack I sent you to?" he looked at me in anger.

I knew this was the time we had to flee. This was probably our only chance. I inched towards Poppy and whispered in her ear. "Run" and took off faster than ever. Closely followed by Poppy.

"Hey! Get back here!" Kegan screamed.

"What the hell is that guy talking about Eva?" Poppy panted as we grabbed Xainier and she ran with us too.

"Yeah what the hell is going on?!" Xainier added to Poppy's question.

I sighed. "I'll explain later but right now we need to get out of here! Xainier call your brother."

"I already mind linked him as soon as I saw you two running towards me!"

Keegan was gaining on us fast and I was running out of ideas. He could never keep up with me, I knew that, however I wasn't sure if he could catch up with the others.

We made it outside and hid behind the corner of the building. I bent over with my hands on my knees. I don't think I have ever ran so hard.

"Now would you explain?" Poppy said angrily.

I sighed. I couldn't tell them the whole truth because I didn't want to put them in danger. I just needed to tell them enough to explain what they were running away from.

"He's just a guy from my past who I don't want to be in my future" I shrugged.

Xainier looked like she was about to explode. "That's not enough information! What kind of guy from your past?!"

Kegan rounded the corner before I could answer and threw his fist into my face, knocking me to the ground.

"The kind of guy, who wants his part of an unfinished deal!" Kegan roared.

I heard the girls gasp as I hit the floor. I shook it off. Now wasn't the time to be weak. I pulled myself to my feet and tried to block the girls from his rage with my body.

"It's our business Keegan. Leave these girls out of it" I growled.

He chuckled. "No chance. They're now collateral"

He punched me, yet again, knocking me to the ground. I was dazed for longer this time. Long enough for him to have shifted and cornered the girls. I groaned and pulled myself to my feet, just as I saw his paw raised to strike Poppy's face.

Someone lit a fire in my brain at this sight. Anger I had never, ever felt before surged through my body. Along with a searing, empowering heat. Bright lightning shot out of my hands, striking Kegan, knocking him to the ground with a thud. The girls looked at me, with horror on their faces but they also looked relieved.

The heat subsided and I was falling towards the ground with no strength to stop myself. My knees hit the ground first and then I fell onto my side and the world went black.